Air-drying apparatus for metallurgical purposes.



B. WALTER.

AIR DRYING APPARATUS FOR METALLURGICAL PURPOSES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.12, 1010.

1,035,281. Patented Aug. 13,1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES I I zhw mw; m 'F/MM 49% MM B. WALTER.

AIR DRYING APPARATUS FOR METALLURGICAL PURPOSES.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 12, 1910.

1 ,035,281. I Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

INVENTOFI A W m M WITNESSES B. WALTER.

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

4 BHBETBSHEET 3.

WJ/ l A Q/MWW W B. WALTER.

AIR DRYING APPARATUS FOR METALLURGICAL PURPOSES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.12,1910.

' 1,035,281, Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

4 BHEETSSEEET 4.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BRUCE WALTER, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNDR T0 JA MES GAYLEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

I AIR-DRYING APPARATUS FOR METALLURGICAL PURPOSES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

To all whom it may-concern.-

Be it known that I, BRUCE WALTER, of Pittsburgh, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Air-Drying Apparatus for Metallurgical Purposes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is aside elevation partially in section showing a blast furnace provided with my improved air-drying and blowing system; Fig. 2 is a partial vertical section direct contact wit on a larger scale showing the lower portion of the refrigerating and drying tower; Fig. 3 is a similar view of the upper portion of the tower, these two figures together showing a vertical section of the entire tower; Fig. 4 is a cross-section at two different levels, the upper portion being above the tank, and the lower portion being above the screens; Fig. 5 is. another cross-section, the left-hand portion being above the ventilators and the right-hand portion through the screens; Fig. 6 is adetail view of one of the annular troughs and vertical water-distributing pipes; Fig. '7 is a cross-sectional view of a'modification; Fig. 8 is a detail View of one of the radial screens; and Fig. 9 is a detail View of the upper portion of one of the water-distributing pipes.

My invention relates to the drying of air for metallurgical purposes by the system of refrigeration; and its object is to provide a simple and eflicient apparatus in which the air flows upwardl and is first subjected to water, and then to direct contact with refrigerated congealable liquid, such as water, and thereafter to direct contact with a refrigerated non-congealable liquid such as brine.

In my invention the entire drying apparatus is preferably arranged in one tower, and the air may pass continuously upward from the bottom to the top of the tower, or may pass up through one portion of the tower i'n contact witlrthe refrigerated water, thence down through an intermediate channel 'or channels, and thence up through another portion of the tower, where itis subjected to direct contact with refrigerated brine or similar li uid.

i In the rawings, referring to'the-form of Figs. 1- to (6, inclusive, 2 represents the refrigerahng. tower, which is preferably formed of a sheet steel shell with a domeshaped top, this being preferably provided with an outer covering of a non-heat-c0nducting material, such as cork, not shown in the drawings. This tower is provided with a central vertical open well 3, forming between it and the shell of the tower an annular vertical space, which is divided horizontally into two compartments to give a two-stage treatment as the air rises through the tower.

The air is preferably led into the annular space in the tower through a pipe 4 enterin the bottom portion of the tower at one side, and thence rises through ventilator pipes 5 into an annular chamber 6. The ventilator pipes 5 are secured to a floor or bottom, which in the form shown forms the base of a filter containing filtering material 7. This filtering material mayconsist of any of the desirable forms of granular filtering material, and in the chamber 6 I preferably arrange a horizontal. annular trough 8, into which the water is fed from the next horizontal partition 9 through pipes 10 discharging into the annular trough 8. The arrangement may be such that the trough is submerged in a body of water overlying the filtering material, or so that the water level is below the top of the trough. I prefer, however, to maintain a body of water in this filter chamber up to and above the water level at the top of the trough. The annular floor 9 above the filter chamber collects the water dropping through the radial grids and enables this water to be taken direct to the refrigerating apparatus therefor through a pipe 11 without passing through the filter. This is desirable at such times as the filter is being cleaned, as hereinafter described.

From the floor 9 rise the ventilators 12, which are preferably provided with spacedapart caps to allow exit of air and shed the water dripping down from the grids.

In the annular space above the floor 9 for a considerable height, I arrange a series of tiers of radial grids, one of which is shown in Fig. 8. These grids preferably consist of a supporting rectangular frame 13, within which is secured a meshed or foraminous fabric 14, which is preferably of wire cloth, though it may be expanded metal or any other form of foraminous or reticulated structure. .These grids are detachably held in radial position in successive horizontal rows,-and the water trickles down over them incontact with the air rising between and through them. Just above the upper tier of these grids are arranged a series of annular water troughs 15, each having a water-distributing pipe or hose 16 rising from them. There are several. an nular rows of these pipes 16, as shown in Fig. 4. The annular troughs 15 preferably have concave bottoms, and their side walls are preferably cut in saw-tooth form both at the top and bottom, as shown in Fig. 6. This saw-tooth. formation causes the water "to, overflow in small separated streams, and

the saw teeth at the bottom causes this watel to drip in drops therefrom, giving the eflect of rain or a spray upon the upper row of gr ds. The water flows down through the plpes 16 into these overflow troughs l5,

and the upper portions of the pipes 16 project through a floor 17, their upper portions preferably having adjustable sleeves 18 -with weirs or side openings 19 formed therein. The water rising on the'floor 17 flows in through the weirs into these pipes, and

thence down into the distributing troughs.

By turning the sleeves 18 the height of the weir may be varied on account of the screwthreaded connection with the pipe to give the proper distribution into the troughs.

I have now described the water-distributing portion of the tower, above which is a passing the air into the ch-amber 'for the second stage.

In this second stage, the arrangement of grids, distributing troughs,

liquid'distributing pipes, upper floor, ven-- tilators, and liquid'eliminators are all the same asv in the first stage, the difference bemg that a non-congealable liquid at the refrigerating temperature employed therefor is fed into this systeminstead of the refrigerated water int-he first stage-j In Fig. 31 have marked parts similar {to 5- The liquid distributing systems as -;engine 26, b

those of Fig; 1 with similar, numerals with the. letter asu'p IiedQ From the top of he tower the air'lleads metallurgical apparatus. 1

ranged in the central well in the form shown. In the first or refrigerated water stage, I provide a tank'29, from which the water passes out through pipe 30 andthence through branches 31 to an annular tank 32 having a series of radial disch'arge'pipes 33 through which the water flows onto the floor 17. The quantity of water flowing out of the tankv may be regulated by valves 3 1 1n thepipe 30. The water is fed up and into the top of the tank 29 through pipe 3 5, which extends into and out through a pit below the well and passes to the refrigerating apparatus for the water. -The amount of water entering the tank 29 from pipe 35 .is controlled by avalve 36, which in turn has a lever system connecting with a float 37, so that :the flow of waterv into the tank is controlled by the level of the water therein.

The brine supplytank and distributing system is the same as that for the water, and is shown in Fig. 3, similar parts being designated by similar numeralswith the letter a applied. I 1 The water is refrigeratedindependently of the brine, there belng a brine cooler and a water cooler, but the ammonia refrigerating plant for both ispreferably the same- That is, if'I'have several compressors for the am monia, I can use. some of these for the water and some for the brine, and regulate the number used on each according to circumstances or requlrements. In the operat1on of the apparatus, the brine is continuously refrigerated and flows-in a circuit, being refrigerated outside of the tower, thence taken to the tank in the tower and dripped down over the grids in contact with the rising air. The same is the case with the water, and the air as it rises through the towerfirst comes into direct contact with the. water and,

thereafter into. direct contact with the brine, and passes over the eliminators between these two stages and after, the second stage.

In this two-stage system .the' moisture .in the air will be reduced to a small and sub- 1 stantially uniform content beforev the air passesto the blowing engine. The amount "of moisture in the air can also be regulated by varying the degree of refrigeration of -e ither;the water or brine, or both, and the temperature of the air is preferably reduced to the freezing point orbelow The top'of the central wellff is preferably, closed,

shownin Fig. 3. The water being brought into contact .with atmospheric air will become' contaminated by v dirt,; .et c.', from the air',.' and for this reason, since the water is, Y continuously used overand over-gagain in J a cyc1e, I prefer to filter-the waterqafteri Lithas performed its fu11ction, in.:the.- re-' .frigeratmg apparatus and before jitpasses 1 yto. its cooling apparatus... .This'ffiiterarrange nent may,-'however, be used ---or not, a

as desired, and I do not intend to restrict my broader claims thereto.

In the form shown, beyond the parts already described, the water is taken from the filter bed through strainers 38 into branch pipes 39, which lead it into a circular header pipe 40 having a pipe 41 leading to valve pipe 42. The water rises into valve pipe 42 to the connection 43 through which it flows into stand pipe 44. I use this stand pipe to maintain the water level at a desirable height in the filter chamber, the stand pipe being open at its top. The water level in the filter may also be obtained in other ways, as by a float valve, 820. The water flows down through the stand pipe 44 while maintaining a level therein and passes to a cooler of the external refrigerating apparatus.

When it is-desired to clean the filter bed, the valve 45 above the pipe 41 is closed, and the valve 46 below this connection is open, the latter valve being normally closed. At the same time the valves 47 in the pipes 10 are closed and the valve 48 in pipe 11 is open. The wash-out water is then forced in through the bottom of pipe 42 and up through pipe 41 and the strainers into the bed. of sand, whence it flows upwardly and enters the trough 8. It is taken out of this trough throughv a valve pipe 49, which leads to the sewer., When the filter bed has thus been cleaned by the reverse flow of the water,

the valves are changed to their original posi- 'tion, and the action of the filter bed goes on as before.

Instead of passing the air upwardly through the entire tower, I may decrease the height of the tower by forming a portion of the tower for one stage and another portion of the tower for another stage with intermediate channels through which the air may descend from the one stage before starting into the second stage. Thus, in Fig. 7 I show a form where the air entering the bottom at 51 rises through'the right-hand portion52 of the tower and is there subjected to the direct contact of the water the same as in the. lower portion of the first form. At the top of the tower the air enters the side channels-53-through which it descends to the bottom of the tower and thence rises through the-other portion 54 of the tower, which will be provided with the brine system the same as in the first form. From the top of this portion 54 the air passes oil through a pipe 55 to the blowing en 'ne. In

. this case thesam'e central-well, is s own as before,7this{wellcontaining the water and :brine distributing systems. I

jAccess'f-is'h ad to the various parts of the apparatus I through suitable ,manholes or closed doors atsuitable points. In order to bypass the-air around either stage, I preferably ;arrange normally closed openings into the central well above and below each stage, not shown. In case it is desired to by-pass either stage, these doors are open and the air impelled by the fan which 'is preferably used at the entrance to the tower will then pass the air through the well and around either stage. This gives a considerable advantage, because in prior systems so far as I know if the air was by-passed, the fan was cut out of service and the air must be drawn through solely by the blowing engine beyond the refrigerating apparatus.

The advantages of my invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Only one tower is necessary, and the air rises through both stages, this being highly desirable since the gravity is utilized for the liquid and the flow of the liquid is always in the opposite direction to that of the air. The air is brought into intermediate contact with both refrigerated liquids and the action of the apparatus is eflicient and uniform. The drying action may be varied by varying the temperature of the brine or the water, or both. It may also be further regulated by the quantity of water and brine supplied. The filter system is highly desirable to prevent accumulative contamination of the water and maintain it in proper condition, though it is not essential.

Many changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the grids, the liquid supplies, the form and size of the tower, &c., without departing from my invention.

I claim 1. In air drying apparatus for metallurgical purposes, a tower having superimposed compartments, a partition separating the compartments and arranged to allow upward flow of air therethrough while preventing downward flow of liquid, means for passing air upwardly through said compartments in succession, and means for subjecting the'air to the action of separate refrigerated liquids in the said air compartments; substantially as described.

2. In air drying apparatus for metallurgical purposes, a tower having superimposed compartments, a partition separating the compartments and arranged to allow upward flow of air therethrough while pre venting downward flow of liquid, means for a passing air upwardly" through said comartments in succession, means for subjecting the air to the direct action of refrigerated water in a lower chamber, and means for subjecting the air to direct contact with a refrigerated non-congealable liquid in an upper compartment, substantially as described.

33. In air drying apparatus for metallur-.

gical purposes, a tower having a central well and an annular space with a partition dividing it into superimposed compartments, said tower being arranged to allow upward flow gical purposes, a tower having superimposed v described.

of air from one chamber to another while preventing downward flow of liquid from one chamber to the-next, means for passing air upwardly through the chambers in succession, and means in one of the lower chambers for bringing the air into direct contact with refrigerating liquid, substantially as described.

4. In air drying apparatus for metallurgical purposes, a tower having a central well and an annular space with a partition dividing it into. superimposed compartments, said tower being arranged to allow upward flow of air "from 'one'chamber to another while preventing downward flow of liquid from one chamber to the next, means for passing air upwardly through the chambers in succession, means for refrigerating air by direct contact with refrigerated'water in a lower compartment, and means in an upper compartment for refrigerating air in a second stage by the action of refrigerated noncongealable liquid, substantially as described.

5. In air drying apparatus for metallurgical purposes, a tower having superimposed compartments, a partition separating the compartments and arranged to allow upward flow of air therethrough while preventing downward flow of liquid, means for passing air upwardly through said compartments in succession, means for subjectingthe air to the direct action of refrigerated water in a lower chambemmeans for sub- ]ecting theoairto direct contact with a refrigerated non-congealable liquid in an up per compartment, and a filter through which the water passes before passing back to the:

waterco'oling apparatus, substantially as 6. In air drying apparatus for mania compartments, apartition separating the compartments and arranged to allow upward' flow of air therethrough while preventing downward flow' of liquid, means-for passing air upwardly througli isaid compartments 1n succession, means for subjecting the air to the direct action-of refrige ated water in a lower chamber, means for subjecting the air to direct contact with a re-.

with refrigerated water, a filter through which the water passes before passing back to the watercooling apparatus, means for washing the filter, and means for by-passing the water during the cleaning of the filter; substantially as described.

-8. In air drying apparatus for metallurgical purposes, r a tower having superimposed compartments, ventilators risingfrom the separating partition to'allow passage of air upwardly, means for feeding a r upwardly through the separate compartments, 1

and means for refrigerating the air by direct action. of liquid in the successivecomparb ments; substantially as described;-

9. In air drying apparatus for metallurgical purposes, a tower havingsuperimpos ed compartments with a horizontal floor separating them,'means in the lower compartment for refrigerating the air by refrigerated water, means in the upper compartment for refrigerating the air by the action of a refrigerated .non-congealabl'e liquid, and liquid distributing pipes extending "up through one of the floors to above its level and arranged to discharge into distributing; troughs; substantially as described.

10. In'air drying apparatus for metallurgical purposes, -a, tower having horizontally separated floors,' a'nd liquid {distributing pipes extending,

the floors to a iove itslevel and arranged to discharge into distributing troughs, saidv pipes having vertically adjustable inlets at the top v; substantially ,as' described.

my handl i I r ,e. M, vans, LM.v Conwm,

upwardly through 'one of .95 In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set 7 4 BRUCE WALTER; i 'Witnesses: 

